AIE-active organoboron complexes with highly efficient solid-state luminescence and their application as gas sensitive materials

Abstract

Complexation of a boron atom with two of benzothiazole–enolate-based bidentate ligands successfully gave rise to the corresponding BF₂-/BPh₂-chelated complexes (3–6), which could be considered as novel AIE-active organoboron luminophores. These new luminophores exhibited aggregation-induced emission, and a large Stokes shift in solution. In the solid-state, compounds 3–6 exhibited intense emission with high quantum yields of 0.14–0.43. The photophysical properties and AIE characteristics of these compounds were rationalized through X-ray crystal analysis and theoretical calculations. In addition, compounds 4 and 6 were capable of sensing acidic gas by reversible changes of emission, which may potentially serve as solid-state luminescent sensors for acidic vapors.